Most expensive Model 3 Ever?????

[glowe]

For your viewing pleasure, reportedly the last revolver owned by Jessie James.

Item # 4159 (Ended 2019-06-01 03:03:33) - THE LAST PISTOL JESSE JAMES EVER OWNED<br><br>Smith & Wesso...

 

[raljr1]

That's amazing. I had not seen this. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[model3sw]

I just don't know about the provenance on this one. Also, the lineage is extremely vague. I'm not convinced enough to plop down that sort of cash.

 

[Kurusu]

But... but... but... What about all those other guns he owned after he was killed?

 

[mrcvs]

I remain skeptical of the provenance. The handwriting expert states the signature within is "highly probable". Okay, butthatdoesn't mean it is. Plus, if you have ever written on something like a grip vs a flat sheet of paper, the appearance of the writing will appear different. Also, I think a larger writing sample would be necessary to prove this was truly written by Jesse James.

Conveniently, a packet if pertinent information is missing.

I'm not buying it. Shaky provenance at best. In order to spend that kind of money, I need definitive proof, such as a document detailing this revolver, as written in Jesse James' time, with serial number or other unique identifying feature.

 

[bigolddave]

Jesse's mother Zerelda Samuels had quite a little business selling Jesse's guns to visitors to her farm. She usually provided a letter with it. The volume was roughly equivalent to the number Pancho Villa's widow and Bat Masterson sold combined.

 

[rct269]

I hear tell some smart old guy once said, "Buy the gun, not the story.". I reckon these folks'd heard about that too, and decided if they made the story long enough, they might could wear folks down to the point they'd just forget that warning----or just give up.

I sure am glad I didn't know anything about this until now when it's too late to run down there and get that gun.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Bekeart]

Province of the TRUE gun OWNED by ...

Province of the TRUE gun OWNED by ...


A note I have seen in the past - could not verify with google:

We do not have the gun that shot Billy the Kid. Two other museums have it.

Also remember reading that the dime novel writer Ned Buntline
in his later years would buy Colt revolver at pawn shops
and resell as "the one he carried in the west".
(IRRC this was said by john Amber of Gun Digest)

Bekeart

 

[mrcvs]

Awesome! $670,050 (excludes shipping) for a refinished firearm with questionable provenance! At least the grips are ivory and look decent.

You would think for $670,050 you could get free shipping???

 

[pasound]

$670,050 should get you the gun and at least a thigh bone...

 

[glowe]

Jesse's mother Zerelda Samuels had quite a little business selling Jesse's guns to visitors to her farm. She usually provided a letter with it . . .

I visited the farm in the very early 1970s and that story was relayed by tour guides to all who visited the home in that era. The truth about the story of Jesse's mother buying junk guns into the Twentieth Century, before her death in 1911, is legendary, but not proven to be true or false. Mostly because any and all who reportedly bought those guns are dead.

 

[raljr1]

I agree that the provenance may be a bit thin, however people who spend $600k on something like that are probably not going to go broke over it.

 

[Inusuit]

It bothers me also that they are claiming this revolver was a surplus item in 1880? Only 5 years Military service? Roy Jinks Book confirms it. I know they became surplus but only 5 years? I wonder why? Then poor Jessie somehow obtained this pistol "nickel plated" just prior to his death in 1882? I guess he didn't carry it for very long? Or perhaps not at all!
Or perhaps it was plated at some later date? But somehow during the re-Nickel process " The Blood" somehow remained on the grips. That's why they were " Stuck" to the gun as claimed in the description. That's a stretch I think.

I'm currently doing research on the firearms owned by the Wyoming State Museum. In the collection is a nickel plated Schofield with what appears to be an authentic Wells Fargo stamp as verified by knowledgeable members of this forum.

Our research indicates that the five-year period of military use is correct. As you probably know, the Colt Single Action Army revolver chambered for the Colt .45 was adopted by military in July 1873. The Schofield came into military service in 1875 and was chambered in proprietary .45 Smith and Wesson caliber, a shorter round which chambers in the SAA. But the "long" Colt cartridge will not chamber in the Schofield. This created problems in the supply chain and I believe is the reason the Schofield was declared surplus after only five years.

The Museum has two revolvers with the owner's name inside the grips, an 1875 Remington and a 1907 vintage Colt SAA, so it was not an unusual practice.

In my limited experience, establishing provenance with 100% accuracy is almost impossible. The donor of the Colt SAA above claimed the revolver was owned the infamous Tom Horn at the time he was a range detective in Wyoming. Horn was hung in 1903, the Colt was shipped in 1907. The true story of revolver is more interesting than the myth.

 

[iby]

I wouldn't buy a "Dead Man's Gun"

 

[sspierce8]

I can't remember for sure, but I think I saw a Jesse Schofield at the NRA museum at Bass Pro in Springfield MO. Wonder if it's the same one? Johnny Morris bought perhaps?

 

[thadheth]

I appreciate this thread. Having watched the auction since it began on May 1, I had some concerns about the provenance - glad to see that others shared the skepticism.

 

[opoefc]

Barnum was right ! "There's a sucker born evey minute & two to take him " Ed.

 

[shouldazagged]

I think I smell overripe carp.

It will be interesting to see if the buyer can sell it for, say, $2 million. Maybe he isn't a sucker after all, unless the DNA kills the deal.

 

[Griff411]

I believe that it is generally accepted that Jesse wasn't wearing his guns at the time of his murder. Where did all of this "blood" come from?

Griff

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

 

[opoefc]

Griff, The seller has a lengthy video explain his version of where the blood came from. He says Jesse's wife ran into the room where Jesse was shot, when she heard the shot, and found him on the floor bleeding. She tried to stop the bleeding and got blood on her hands and then grabbed the Schofield and wanted to shoot Charlie Ford ( Bob had already run away ) but Charlie said it was an accident. etc. , so the seller claims the blood under the stocks is Jesse's, transferred from his wife's hand which were bloody from touching Jesse's wound. ( Yeah, right !) Ed.